Two most dominating performances
The two most dominating performances I've witnessed during my time in horse racing -- Secretariat in the 1973 Belmont and Rachel Alexandra in the 2009 Kentucky Oaks. Enjoy two magnificient performances:
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I cry every time I watch Secretariat's Belmont! LOL
Rachel Alexandra's performance is very good, but not among the best of all time.
Wow Chrystal, you're a tough critic!! :-) what are some of the performacnes you'd rate more "dominating" than Rachel's record 20 1/4-length victory in the Oaks?
No horse in my opinion, comes close to Secretariat.
He is the greatest of all!
Lise,
As far as most dominating performance, I think there's no question you're right. To win by 31 lengths on a day when he became the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years says a lot. He loses points, though, on my list of all-time greats because he didn't race as a 4-year-old. Best thoroughbred I've seen in my lifetime? Spectacular Bid, who raced as a 4-year-old and won every race en route to Horse of the Year in 1980. He was 2-year-old male champion in 1978 and 3-year-old male champion in 1979. He set track records at distances ranging from 5 1/2 furlongs to 1 1/4 miles, and he still holds the American record at the latter distance -- 1:57.8 ... won five times in his career carrying more than 130 pounds. Yes, Secretariat was a great race horse, but best I ever saw because of all he accomplished was the Bid.
I think Secretariat's Belmont race has to be considered the greatest single race by a thoroughbred though. Secretariat demolished the world record that day with a time that still stands today. Rachel Alexandra was 8 lengths behind the TRACK record. Race vs Race... no comparison.